Bus130 Ch1 MC

When a tee shirt manufacturer states, “We only sell it in black because that way we can buy plenty of black fabric and run our plant efficiently,” their statement reflects the views that were popular in which era of the evolution of marketing?

Production scheduling is the responsibility of manufacturing; all other activities are part of marketing.

Jami sells construction equipment. Whenever she calls on her building contractor customers, she asks if they are having any problems. In doing so, Jami is addressing which of the following core aspects of
marketing?

By asking about problems, Jami is asking what unmet needs the contractor might have. She hopes that her company may have products that will help to meet these needs.

Julia is considering a career in marketing. She is concerned about the image of marketers as fast-talking, high-pressure people. When reading about the core aspects of marketing, Julia is relieved to see that in
marketing

A. all parties to an exchange should be satisfied.
B. promotion is the most important consideration, followed by pricing decisions.
C. decisions are made regarding how a product is designed.
D. customers are not considered until the product is ready for sale.
E. distribution is controlled by customers.

A

If all parties to the exchange are satisfied, that indicates that marketers are considering customers’ needs as well as the company’s welfare. None of the other alternatives ensure that customers’ needs are being satisfied.

Xavier is analyzing potential market segments. He should carefully seek potential customers who have both an interest in his products and

A. a thorough knowledge of his brand messages.
B. the ability to buy them.
C. knowledge of competing products.
D. the ability to negotiate discounts.
E. are removed from traditional marketing alternatives.

B

If Xavier selects customers with an interest in the kinds of products he offers, and the ability to purchase, he can communicate the value his offerings provide and offer competitive comparisons as part of his marketing mix.

Potential buyers who are qualified in terms of interest and ability to buy are the primary interest of marketers. C2C (consumer-to-consumer) buyers would be of interest to consumers who are marketing products, but not to businesses who participate in B2C and B2B markets. While first-time buyers are
interesting to marketers, loyal customers are even more important to the firm.

When referring to “exchange,” marketers are focusing on

A. the location where products and services are traded.
B. the price charged, adjusted for currency exchange rates.
C. location-based tactics for creating value.
D. promotional offers designed to stimulate barter.
E. the trading of things of value.

E

Exchange refers to each of the parties involved giving something and getting something in return.

Whenever Valerie has a new massage therapy customer, she invites the person to be on her e-mail distribution list. In the process, in addition to exchanging her massage therapy service for payment,
Valerie is gathering

In this case, Valerie’s customer receives a massage, and she receives both payment and information (in the form of the customer’s email address) as part of the exchange process.

Which of the following questions must be addressed when making marketing decisions?

A. How is the product to be designed?
B. How much should the product cost?
C. Where should the product be promoted?
D. How will the product be delivered to the customer?
E. All of these

E

The four questions represent the four Ps: product (design), price (cost), promotion, and place
(delivery).

Fiona has developed a new software application that automatically recalculates and reformats accounting information based on the standards used in each country. Her product is superior to anything that exists on the market. Which of the following questions will she have to address when making marketing decisions?

A. How the software will be promoted?
B. What price should she charge?
C. Should she sell her software on the Internet?
D. In what country should she offer the software for sale first?
E. All of these

E

Fiona’s product is the software. The other four questions address the remaining elements of the four Ps: promotion, price, and place (Internet sales and choice of first country).

Which of the following is a core aspect of marketing?

A. Satisfying as many needs as possible
B. Creating a product that everyone will want to buy
C. Setting prices lower than all competitors
D. Making product, place, promotion, and price decisions
E. Increasing the company’s profit

D

Most of these answers are too broad. Marketers don’t generally try to sell to everyone, and they don’t necessarily strive to have the lowest price. Instead, they select customers they can successfully serve and design a marketing mix (product, place, promotion, and price) to meet those needs.

Marketing has traditionally been divided into a set of four interrelated decisions known as the marketing mix, or four Ps, including all of the following EXCEPT

A. product.
B. place.
C. performance.
D. promotion.
E. price.

C

The four Ps are product, place, promotion, and price.

The four Ps make up the marketing mix, which is the __________ set of activities that the firm uses to respond to the wants and needs of its target markets.

A. unpredictable
B. external
C. internal
D. controllable
E. global

D

The four Ps represent controllable activities–in other words, the things the firm controls and manages.

The fundamental goal of marketers when creating goods, services, or combinations of both, is to:

Goods, services, and ideas can be marketed. Political campaigns are good examples of the marketing of ideas.

Brian is struggling with the choice of publishing his new book, How to Cook Polish Barbeque, as an ebook or a paperback. Brian is addressing which core marketing aspect?

A. Developing a promotional plan
B. Managing the exchange function of marketing
C. Making product decisions
D. Deciding where and how to sell the product
E. Pricing the product

C

Since Brian is making decisions about the form his book will take, he is making product decisions.

The basic difference between a good and a service is that a good

A. provides intangible benefits.
B. can be physically touched.
C. is always less expensive than a corresponding service.
D. generates greater interest among consumers.
E. is more quickly forgotten by consumers.

B

Goods are tangible things that can be touched; services are intangible. The remaining answers could
be true in some cases, but untrue in others.

UPS washes its trucks nightly so they are always clean, and requires its delivery people to wear clean, unwrinkled uniforms. UPS probably established these rules because they know that:

A. consumers want friendly delivery people.
B. most delivery services do not require uniforms.
C. consumers’ judgment of the benefits they receive from services are tied to the image of the producer.
D. the goods UPS sells are easily replicated.
E. all of these

C

Because services are intangible, factors such as appearance and image can become important factors in judging the benefits received. Consumers find it difficult to separate the service from the producer.

Four Winds Art Gallery recently began offering appraisals of customers’ art collections, in addition to continuing to sell paintings. Four Winds is

The owner of The Pipe Doctor, a plumbing service, often orders the sinks, faucets, and toilets he installs for his customers. Since he is paid for these items and also for the labor to install them, the Pipe Doctor:

A. is a provider of goods.
B. is a service provider.
C. provides both goods and services.
D. is primarily a marketer of ideas.
E. offers neither goods nor services.

C

The sinks, faucets, and toilets are goods; installation labor is a service.

The price of a product:

A. is usually expressed in terms of money.
B. includes the time involved in the purchase decision.
C. includes the effort and energy involved in researching the product.
D. is everything the buyer gives up to obtain the product.
E. all of these

E

The price includes everything the buyer gives up–money, time, energy–to obtain the product.

Marketers must determine the price of a product carefully, based on potential buyers’ beliefs about

A. its value.
B. the environment.
C. the cost to manufacture the product.
D. the economic outlook.
E. the product’s new advertising campaign.

A

Pricing based on buyers’ perceptions of value ensures that buyers believe the product is worth its price.

Some discount stores put products in large bins and let consumers hunt and find bargains. The price these consumers pay includes

A. only the actual price they pay at the register.
B. the value of their time and energy.
C. the excitement they experience in finding an item they desire.
D. the savings to the store of not having to display the products neatly on shelves.
E. the time the product was full price and didn’t sell.

B

Price includes everything the customer gives up to get the product.

Henriette offers financial counseling and management on a fee-only basis. She has found that different customers are willing to pay different rates for her services. This shows that her pricing decisions should
depend primarily on

A. choosing an average price that she will charge all her clients.
B. changes in technology allowing consumers to manage their own affairs.
C. how different customers perceive the value of her services.
D. changes in the economy.
E. how much her competitors charge for similar services.

C

Although the other factors might need to be considered in pricing, the primary consideration should be perceived value–and the reason different customers are willing to pay different rates is because they
perceive the value differently.

The question describes the Place component of the marketing mix, which involves managing the supply chain.

Yesenia, the new university course scheduling manager, is struggling with adjustments to the fall schedule. She is trying to determine how to offer the classes students need at the times when students
need them. Yesenia is struggling with the marketing function of

Supply chain management involves integrating the efforts of all firms involved in getting the product to the customer, from suppliers of raw materials to stores in which customers purchase the finished product.

The marketing goal of getting the “right quantities to the right locations, at the right time” is:

A. the goal of promotional effectiveness against ethical advertising standards.
B. the problem of price maximization against cost efficiency.
C. the goal of minimizing costs against satisfying the service levels customers expect.
D. the desire to achieve against the need for a stable source of supply.
E. the goal of efficiency against the price charged by competitors.

C

In the supply chain, the primary concerns are keeping costs low enough to make a profit, and yet ensuring that customers can get products when and where they want them.

The importance of supply chain management is often overlooked in the study of marketing because

A. marketing has no responsibility for supply chain management.
B. supply chain management doesn’t add much value for customers.
C. companies do not want customers to know anything about the supply chain.
D. many of the activities take place behind the scenes.
E. supply chain management is already transparent.

D

Supply chain management is extremely important–without it, customers would not be able to obtain products–but most of the activities take place in the background.

When considering career choices in marketing, many students overlook supply chain management because

A. it is considered too quantitative.
B. marketing has no responsibility for supply chain management.
C. companies generally outsource these activities, and so there are rarely supply chain jobs available.
D. it only takes place in large, urban areas.
E. many of the activities take place behind the scenes.

E

Supply chain management is extremely important–without it, customers would not be able to obtain products–but most of the activities take place in the background.

UPS, FedEx, DHL, and other shipping companies support other firms’ __________ marketing goals.

The goal of promotion is to _______________ potential buyers about a product or service.

A. inform
B. persuade
C. remind
D. all of these
E. none of these

D
D

Informing, persuading, and reminding are the three key goals of promotional campaigns.

Every Christmas season, Anheuser-Busch runs television ads featuring Clydesdale horses in a winter scene. These ads focus on the promotional goal of __________ consumers about Budweiser, the company’s brand of beer.

A. informing
B. persuading
C. reminding
D. all of these
E. none of these

C

Most consumers are already aware of Anheuser-Busch and Budweiser; the Clydesdale ads serve as a reminder.

Local television advertising often includes ads for automobiles dealerships using actors trying to create a sense of excitement and urgency among consumers. These ads are attempting to achieve the promotional goal of _____________ potential buyers.

A. informing
B. persuading
C. reminding
D. all of these
E. none of these

Retailers make up one category of market intermediary, which refers to firms that assist in getting products from the manufacturer to the consumer.

Auction sites like eBay have increased opportunities for __________ marketing.

A. B2B
B. C2C
C. D2C
D. C2D
E. B2G

B

Consumers can buy and sell from each other on sites like eBay, increasing the amount of consumer-to-consumer
(C2C) marketing that takes place.

As use of the Internet took off, car manufacturers were tempted to sell directly to consumers, but decided instead to continue to sell through their existing dealer networks. The car manufacturers considered
switching from __________ to __________ marketing.

A. B2C; B2B
B. B2C; C2C
C. B2B; B2C
D. B2B; C2C
E. C2C; B2C

C

The car manufacturers considered switching from B2B marketing (where they sell cars to dealers, who then sell them to consumers) to B2C marketing (where the car manufacturers would sell directly to
consumers).

Many universities provide physical or electronic bulletin boards to facilitate ride-sharing and exchange of used books among students. These bulletin boards increase __________ marketing.

A. B2C
B. C2B
C. B2B
D. C2C
E. underground

D

These bulletin boards are designed to encourage consumer-to-consumer (C2C) marketing.

Which of the following is NOT true about marketing ideas?

A. Opinions, philosophies, intellectual concepts, and even thoughts can be effectively marketed.
B. The marketing of ideas does not involve true exchange of value.
C. Ideas can be “purchased” by convincing someone to change his or her behavior.
D. Marketing can be directed toward primary and secondary targets to increase knowledge and change behavior.
E. Value can be created through changing behaviors.

B

The marketing of ideas does, in fact, involve exchange of value. One party benefits from exposure to a new idea, while the other generally asks for a particular behavior.

Valerie’s firm researched what its employees wanted from their jobs. It then communicated a brand image for the firm and worked to ensure that the employees’ experiences matched what was advertised. The firm is using:

Employment marketing is the application of marketing techniques to improve employee recruitment and retention.

Joseph is about to graduate near the top of his class and has been looking at some forward-thinking firms. He had expected the job market to be tight, but found that some firms were using employment marketing to attract the candidates they want and need. He noticed these firms used all of the
following approaches EXCEPT:

A. using marketing research to understand what future employees want from a position.
B. using advertising agencies to focus creatively on the targeted job seekers.
C. developing an employee-oriented brand image.
D.
assuming that the right candidates will learn about the firm and apply for jobs without any
encouragement.
E. working to ensure the employment experiences match the candidates’ expectations.

D

Employment marketing means being proactive in the recruitment process, not sitting back and waiting for people to apply.

The “Got Milk” advertising campaign, designed to increase consumption of milk, was intended to help market a(n)

The production era of marketing dealt primarily with manufacturing processes and the design of a good product, but without concern for meeting specific customer needs.

Melanie works for a small computer software company. Her boss is constantly improving their products but neglecting customers, billing, and promoting the company. Her boss is probably stuck in the
__________ era of marketing.

In the sales era, firms believed that a hard-sell approach was the answer to building sales.

Near the end of the model year, Move-Them-Out automobile dealership had an unusually high inventory level. The manager increased her advertising spending and gave extra incentives to its salespeople. Move-
Them-Out operates as if it were in the __________ era.

The marketing era was when most companies first started thinking in terms of meeting customer needs.

During the market-oriented era

A. a good product would sell itself.
B. the customer was king.
C. marketing was more important than production.
D. advertising and personal selling were emphasized to make the sale.
E. firms focused on value.

B

The marketing era was when most companies first started thinking in terms of meeting customer needs.

During the __________ era manufacturers and retailers began to focus on what consumers wanted and needed before they designed, made, or attempted to sell their products.

In the value-based marketing era, firms began to recognize that value creation was the key to success for most firms.

Value is

A. the lowest cost option.
B. represented by brand names.
C. the highest priced alternative.
D. everyday low prices.
E. what you get for what you give.

E

Value is the benefits received minus the costs of acquiring a product, or what you get in return for what you give.

Trey sells consumer electronics. He knows his customers weigh the costs versus the benefits associated with the different options available. He decides which products to offer and what prices to charge based on the way his customers think. Trey operates in the __________ era.

Trey is thinking in terms of the value his customers perceive (benefits minus costs), and thus is thinking about value-based marketing.

Serena studies her customer profiles, market research data, complaints, and other information, attempting to better understand what her customers want. Serena operates in the __________ era of marketing.

Serena is attempting to understand her customers’ perceptions of value.

In delivering value, marketing firms attempt to find the most desirable balance between

A. the need for value and the perception of value.
B. explicit versus implicit value.
C. providing benefits to customers and keeping costs down.
D. the desire to satisfy customers and the need to keep customers from running the company.
E. the need for product improvement and the need for advertising.

C

The challenge for all firms is to provide the value customers expect while keeping costs low enough to allow the firm to be profitable.

Yolanda is the new restaurant manager in a major hotel. When considering changes in the restaurant to improve benefits to customers, Yolanda will likely attempt to either provide the same quality at a lower
cost or

These customers are simply seeking to maximize the value they receive.

Christie has just started with a travel agency, and she has been offering clients and prospective clients a range of packaged tours. She is concerned, because the commissions she is earning on her sales are
lower than she had hoped. Her colleague Peter, who has been with the agency for several years, is having

a great deal of success by working closely with the clients, seeking their ideas, and building customized
tour packages for each one based on their suggestions. Peter’s approach is based on
A. transaction-oriented marketing.
B. premium pricing.
C. his seniority at the firm.
D. special incentives from tour operators.
E. value cocreation.

E

Peter is collaborating with his clients to build custom packages, which is an example of value cocreation.

Value-based marketing depends on:

A. knowing what the customer perceives as the key benefits of a product or service.
B. balancing customer benefits with reasonable costs.
C. knowing what benefits customers would do without to keep prices down.
D. looking at quality from the customer’s perspective.
E. All of these.

Ann Marie has been working on pricing for the hotel where she works. She knows business travelers stay at the hotel because it has easy access to the airport, and others stay there because it is convenient to the shopping and entertainment districts. She is unsure whether she should raise rates for the
business travelers, the leisure travelers, both, or neither. As she works to find the best pricing mix, she’ll have to look at the ways these travelers will evaluate the benefits of staying at the hotel. In doing so, Ann Marie will be using:

Ann Marie is thinking about value-comparing benefits to price from the customer’s perspective.

Janine has a new clothing design she would like to market, but she knows that creating and delivering value to consumers is a challenge. She has seen other designers’ successful products copied by other firms soon after they were introduced. For Janine, the major problem she faces in creating and
delivering value is probably that
:
A. consumer perceptions change quickly.
B. competitors constantly enter markets.
C. global pressures continually reshape market opportunities.
D. marketers’ understanding of consumers is complete.
E. consumers do not know what they want.

B

The question mentions copycat competitors, which suggests that her major problem is pressure from competitors.

In 2006, the film “Supersize Me” provided a critical view of McDonald’s and its products that caused some consumers to stop eating at McDonald’s. The company was caught off guard and had to move quickly to develop a response. In terms of value-based marketing, McDonald’s faced what potential
problem?

This is an example of a change in consumer perceptions due to the film.

To become a more value-driven organization, Pokrah University is holding regular coffee-hour discussions with its students and is surveying its graduates regarding students’ educational needs and
desires. Pokrah University is becoming more value driven through

By communicating regularly with students and alumni, Pokrah University is working to build closer relationships with these groups.

As owner of a retail franchise food store, Mary Gray purchases supplies based on specials advertised nationally throughout the franchise system. One Monday, she was surprised to find customers asking for
specials she hadn’t been informed of in advance. The franchise company failed to live up to the value-driven principle of

Information must be shared across a broad range of topics for value-based marketing to be successful.

In the past, manufacturer’s representatives did not have up-to-minute data about the products they were selling. Today, manufacturer’s representatives are often provided online access to inventory data for the companies they represent. These online inventory systems allow companies to become more value-driven through

Value-driven marketing is likely to lead to loyal customers through the relationships that are formed.

Even though they operate from out-of-the-way airports and offer few extra services, discount airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet have been successful. Consumers obviously consider

A. the schedules these airlines offer to be the most convenient in the industry.
B. the long-term relationships established by these airlines to be a critical benefit.
C. the prices to be slightly lower, but not low enough to have much influence.
D. the benefit of lower prices to be greater than the cost of reduced services and less convenience.
E. the major airlines to be worthless.

D

People flying discount airlines have decided to bear some inconvenience in return for lower prices. The benefits are lower, but so is the cost, so the offering can have value despite the inconvenience.

To become value-driven, firms should:

A. share information across the entire organization about customers and competitors.
B. prioritize relationships with customers above individual transactions.
C. balance benefits with costs to create value for customers.
D. All of these.
E. None of these

D

Information sharing, a relational orientation, and balancing benefits and costs are three essential characteristics of a value-driven firm.

A buyer’s representative in a real estate purchase was asked by her customer, “Is this a fair offer?” She responded, “You are only trying to buy one house. Do you want to offer more money than you have to?” The buyer’s representative recognized that in most situations, home buyers are engaged in

If the buyer were establishing a relationship with the seller, s/he might be concerned about ensuring
that both sides felt the offer was fair; however, the buyer is unlikely to ever do business with this
seller again. And in that case, the buyer’s primary interest is likely to be getting the best result possible
in this single transaction.

If you are involved in a buying or selling situation in which you do not expect to do business with the other party again, you are engaged in a

A relational orientation expects a relationship to develop over the long term.

Many firms with complex products have “missionary” salespeople who assist customers with problems and implementation programs. These salespeople rarely sell products but often become involved in and knowledgeable about specific customers’ needs and wants. These salespeople focus on a(n) __________
orientation with their customers.

A. transactional
B. external
C. relational
D. internal
E. divisional

C

A relational orientation refers to the building of relationships and the development of a better understanding of customers’ needs and wants.

After major hurricanes like Katrina, many ethical home repair and building supply businesses continue to charge pre-hurricane prices to their customers, even though due to the huge increase in demand they could charge much more. These firms probably recognize that

A. they can make more money from government contracts than from sales to customers.
B. a transactional orientation is the key to long-term profitability.
C. none of their competitors would be raising prices.
D. lifetime profitability of relationships matters more than profits from a particular transaction.
E. if they raised prices they would be in violation of Commerce Department regulations.

D

By not raising prices when they could, the firms were resisting the temptation to make a quick profit and were instead demonstrating the value they placed on long-term relationships with their customers.

After hurricanes like Katrina, many small building contractors will flock to the damaged area charging whatever customers will pay for temporary repairs to roofs and other parts of damaged homes. These contractors are engaged in a ___________ marketing orientation
.
A. transactional
B. external
C. relational
D. internal
E. value driven

A

This behavior demonstrates a transactional orientation, where the seller seeks to make a quick profit and is not concerned about long-term relationships.

Melinda, a marketing executive, is trying to explain customer relationship management (CRM) to her parents. She explains that CRM is a way of thinking that translates into ___________________ to identify and build long-term relationships with her customers.

A. a set of strategies
B. programs
C. efforts
D. systems
E. all of these

E

CRM is not just a software application or a set of tasks–it is a complete approach to managing customer relationships that encompasses strategies, programs, software, and effort invested.

The goal of customer relationship management is to

A. manage every customer relationship differently.
B. manage every customer relationship to maximum short-term profitability.
C. eliminate customers who are profitable, but not highly profitable.
D. identify and build loyalty among a firm’s customers.
E. generate relationships with all of a firm’s customers.

D

Some of the answers include CRM themes but are carried to an extreme–for example, although CRM seeks to customize the relationship to meet the customer’s primary needs, it doesn’t mean that every customer must be managed differently from every other. And not every customer wants a relationship (nor does the firm want a relationship with every customer). But CRM does concern itself with building loyalty in the customer base.

Firms and organizations use customer relationship management to:

A. provide their best customers with the products they need.
B. systematically collect information about customers.
C. offer special promotions that appeal to different groups of customers.
D. target their best customers for special attention.
E. all of these.

E

CRM includes all of the listed activities, combining together in an effort to build customer loyalty.

Franco uses a database software system to remind him when his customers should be ready to reorder his industrial cleaning products. With this reminder system, Franco contacts his customers when they are most likely to be “in the buying mode.” Franco’s system is part of

Franco’s system is one element of a customer relationship management system, in that it tracks customers and seeks to meet their specific needs in order to build loyalty.

Many catalog companies create special-run issues based on what customers have purchased in the past. For example, customers who frequently order bedding items like sheets and pillows receive a catalog with a larger section of bedding items than do customers who mostly order kitchen tools. This is an example of

In the production era, marketing was considered unnecessary–all that mattered was producing good products.

Many inventors struggle with the question, “I made it; now how do I get rid of it?” They have made the error of considering marketing as

A. an afterthought.
B. an integral part of a business plan.
C. an accounting function.
D. a profit center.
E. important only for new products.

A

Marketing should be considered at every step of the conception, design, and manufacturing of a new product, and not treated as an afterthought once the product exists.

Your roommate, a non-business major, sees you reading your marketing text. He or she asks, “Why is marketing important?” You respond by saying all of the following EXCEPT

A. Marketers advise production on how much product to make.
B. Marketers tell the logistics department when to ship products.
C. Marketers engage customers and develop long-term relationships.
D. Marketers identify opportunities to expand.
E. Marketers are the most important profit center in any organization.

E

Marketing is usually not a profit center (although sales, which is one marketing function, is often a profit center).

Georgia, the outside sales rep for a major building supply company, reads a report stating that building permits are down dramatically in her sales territory. She had noticed that things were slowing down, but
now she has data confirming her impression. Based on this information, one important function Georgia should provide is

A. pushing her customers to buy products whether they need them or not.
B. advising the production and purchasing departments to produce or order smaller quantities of products.
C. assisting customers in product recall confirmations.
D. avoiding contact with competing firms in order to maximize value-driven marketing.
E. estimating profit per sale to determine whether or not the firm can survive the slowdown.

B

Georgia should share what she has learned with the production and purchasing departments, so that they can plan accordingly. She should not push her customers to buy things they don’t need-
-this will damage her firm’s reputation and will come back to haunt her when the downturn ends. Estimating profit isn’t Georgia’s responsibility, but someone in the firm should look at the impact of the slowdown, if enough sales territories are affected.

Jenny, the delivery and sales representative for a beer distributor, is calling on a retailer and sees the shelves are almost empty. An unexpected sporting event held nearby resulted in a huge increase in sales. She calls her company’s distribution manager and requests a special delivery for her customer. Jenny is providing the important marketing function of

A. advising production on how much product to make.
B. alerting the logistics department when to ship products.
C. advising the customer about new products and markets.
D. identifying opportunities to expand.
E. synthesizing and interpreting sales, accounting, and customer-profile data.

B

Jenny is arranging for a shipment through the distribution manager, who handles the logistics function.

After the previous sales representative in his territory infuriated an important customer, Benjamin visited the customer once a month, never asking for business but hoping to rebuild trust through listening and
expressing concern. Finally, after more than two years, the customer gave Benjamin an order. Benjamin was providing the important marketing function of

A. advising production on how much product to make.
B. alerting the logistics department when to ship products.
C. engaging customers and developing long-term relationships.
D. identifying opportunities to expand.
E. synthesizing and interpreting sales, accounting, and customer-profile data.

C

Benjamin was involved in a relational orientation, hoping to rebuild the long-term relationship with this customer.

Marketing is the part of the organization in the best position to understand customers in all situations.

Leah is the marketing manager for an electronics company. While on vacation in Ecuador, she visited electronics stores in the major malls in Quito, the capital city. Most of her company’s products were available, except for smart phones. When she returned to work, she mentioned this observation to her international sales manager. Leah was providing the important marketing function of

Leah was identifying a potential opportunity–the absence of the firm’s smart phones from stores in Ecuador.

One of the most important challenges in marketing globally is to:

A. ensure that the firm’s products or services stay the same as the offerings in the home country.
B. avoid competing with local firms.
C. adapt to the local situation but maintain strategy and identity.
D. seek out other home-country firms as suppliers so as to ensure product quality.
E. operate without publicity so as not to attract attention.

C

Firms almost always make some adjustments for local conditions; however, the challenge is to do so while still maintaining the company’s overall mission, strategy, and brand identity.

Imagine a country where an anti-marketing dictator orders all marketing efforts to be stopped. Producers are still allowed to produce, and consumers are allowed to consume but no marketing is allowed. In such a situation:

A. there will be no advertising, making it difficult to learn about producers’ offerings.
B. producers will probably over- or underestimate the amount of product customers will buy.
C. consumers will have difficulty comparing the value of different producers’ offerings.
D. producers will have difficulty determining where to ship their products and when.
E. all of these.

All of these descriptions refer to functions performed by marketing that would no longer exist if marketing were outlawed.

Greenbelt Construction has been a successful small home-building firm for years. The owner pays subcontractors slightly more than the usual rate for different tasks, reducing the company’s gross margin. Greenbelt rarely changes subcontractors, has relatively few complaints from home buyers, and is able to
get quick responses from subcontractors when buyers do have problems. Greenbelt is engaged in

By maintaining good relationships with subcontractors, Greenbelt Construction gains the benefit of receiving good service from these subcontractors for itself and for its home buyers. This is a key benefit of effective supply chain management.

Tanya has created a distinctive line of jams, fruit butters and preserves using local, organically grown fruits. She sells these to specialty stores, whose upscale customers appreciate the products and can afford to pay the premium price needed to cover costs. Tanya is concerned about creating value across the entire supply chain, which means that:

A. she is concerned that her suppliers provide her with the high-quality ingredients she needs at a price she can afford.
B. she is concerned that the specialty stores will be able to pay the premium price she needs to charge, but at a price that still allows the stores to sell the products at prices their customers are willing to pay.
C. she would like to create effective relationships with her suppliers and her customers to support the effective marketing of the product to the ultimate customer.
D. she wants to ensure that her suppliers adhere carefully to organic farming practices so that she can offer this benefit to her customers.
E. All of these.

E

All of these factors contribute to effective management of the supply chain.

Marketing enriches society by

A. focusing solely on maximizing profits.
B. sponsoring charitable events.
C. recognizing that the firm can do very little by itself, and so it should stay focused on its own core competencies.
D. facilitating the smooth flow of goods through the supply chain.
E. coordinating marketing functions with other functional areas in the company.

B

Marketing techniques can be applied to social causes as well as to profit-making enterprises, and the firm’s employees can support these causes as well.

A friend of yours comments, “I’m starting my own business. I have a perfect product that no one else can touch, but I have no use for marketing. That’s just for the mega-corporations.” Which of the following
arguments would you NOT use in talking about marketing?

A. Marketing helps new ventures organize, operate, and assess risk.
B. Marketers help address unmet customer needs, regardless of the size of the firm.
C.
Marketing focuses on the product, but only as one element. Three other areas are Promotion, Price, and
Place.
D. Marketers are skilled at communicating the value of the product to potential customers.
E. Marketing isn’t essential now, but it will be in a year or two when the product takes off.

E

Marketing is necessary at all stages of a firm’s life.

Many entrepreneurs are successful through marketing efforts designed to

Employment marketing involves undertaking marketing research to understand what potential employees are seeking, as well as what they think about the firm; developing a value proposition and an employment brand image; and communicating the brand image to potential employees.

People who initiate, organize, operate, and assume the risk of a business venture are called

When a radio station holds an online contest in which you must log on to their website and submit your personal details such as name, phone number and email in order to participate, the radio station:

A. has offered an exchange.
B. is behaving unethically.
C. is hoping to receive feedback.
D. is implementing a CRM program.
E. none of these.

A

Marketing is about an exchange, the trade of things of value between buyer and seller so that each is better off. In this instance, the exchange is email/personal information for a chance to win a contest. CRM would imply closer tracking of customers than this simple exchange suggests.

A(n) _________ is the trade of things of value between the buyer and the seller so that each is better off as a result.

Value cocreation is a process in which customers and the firm work together to customize products. Since the products typically meet more of the customer’s needs, this can provide additional value.

When an accounting firm provides an online training module showcasing real-life decision lapses and their negative effect on the company, they are trying to ensure what type of behavior from their employees?

A. ethical
B. strategic
C. formal
D. casual
E. secretive

A

The question leads us to understand that the company has created an online training to ensure that the employees act ethically.

Which of the following is a core aspect of marketing?

A. It creates value for the customer.
B. It involves exchanges.
C. It includes development of a marketing mix.
D. It occurs in many settings.
E. All of these are core aspects of marketing.

E

These are all core aspects of marketing.

The activity, set of institutions, and process for creating, capturing, communicating, delivering and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners and society at large is called
________.

Jeff is going to sell sporting apparel, which he has already purchased from manufacturers, and has signed a deal agreeing to the volume he would sell monthly. He has researched his competition and talked to some customers and has decided on prices he will charge. Jeff has also developed a plan for promoting his business. Based on this description, which element of the marketing mix does Jeff still
need to work on?

A. Place
B. Product
C. Price
D. Promotion
E. Planning

A

This question outlines each item of the marketing mix except for Place, which represents all the activities necessary to get the product to the right customer when the customer wants it. Jeff needs to decide if he will have a physical store (and if so, where), a web site, and so on.

Jeff opened a sporting apparel store and has signed a lease on the property. He has also signed an agreement with the manufacturer on the amount of merchandise he will sell and the promotions he will conduct. Based on this description, which aspect of the marketing mix does he still need to work on?

A. Price
B. Place
C. Promotion
D. Product
E. Prototype

A

The answer is Price, because this is the only part of the marketing mix missing from the question description.

If a radio station holds an online contest in which you must log in to their website and submit personal details such as name, phone number, and email in order to participate, the radio station is

A(n)__________ is the trade of things of value between the buyer and the seller so that each is better off
as a result.
A. exchange
B. market segment
C. promotional plan
D. transactional orientation
E. relational orientation

A

Traditionally, marketing activities have been divided into product, price, place, and promotion. Select the term that best describes the four Ps.

Internet sites, physical stores, and kiosks are most closely associated with which element of the marketing mix?

A. Place
B. Price
C. Product
D. Promotion
E. Proximity

A

The primary purpose of the __________ plan is to specify the marketing activities for a specific time.

A. marketing
B. business
C. strategic
D. organizational
E. resource

A

When an accounting firm provides an online training module showcasing real-life decision lapses and their negative effect on the company, it is trying to encourage what type of behavior from its employees?

A. ethical
B. strategic
C. formal
D. casual
E. secretive

A

The activity, set of institutions, and process for creating, capturing, communicating, delivering, and exchanging offerings that have value for customers, clients, partners, and society at large is called

Jeff is going to sell sporting apparel, which he has already purchased from manufacturers, and has signed a deal agreeing to the volume he would sell monthly. He has researched his competition and talked to some customers and has decided on prices he will charge. Jeff has also developed a plan for promoting his business. Based on this description, which element of the marketing mix does Jeff still need to work on?

A. Place
B. Product
C. Price
D. Promotion
E. Planning

A

At one point in the evolution of marketing, the United States entered a buyer’s market and the customer became king. Which era is being described?